Current 93 - David Tibet - Handwritten letter with original envelope - Hand signed
06
days
22
hours
37
minutes
34
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Clara Rivera
Holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in film management, specialising in classic cinema and music memorabilia.
Estimate € 330 - € 380
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Description from the seller
David Tibet / Current 93 – Original handwritten letter from 1990 with original envelope
For sale is an extraordinary original historical document by David Tibet, founder and central figure of Current 93: a fully handwritten personal letter from 1990, together with the original envelope.
This is not merely a autograph or a signed slip, but a complete personal correspondence from a pivotal phase in the development of Current 93.
Historically especially interesting content
The letter contains personal statements by Tibet about Aleister Crowley and the Thelema/occult scene.
Particularly noteworthy is the explicitly critical statement:
“Please don’t waste your time with Aleister Crowley: he has nothing to offer except confusion.”
This statement is especially interesting in the historical context of Current 93. The early works of David Tibet and Current 93 were heavily shaped by occult, mystical, and Crowley-related themes. At the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, Tibet’s artistic and spiritual orientation increasingly progressed toward Gnosticism, Christian mysticism, and apocalyptic themes. The present letter comes precisely from this important transitional phase.
Insights into the underground scene at the time
The letter is also particularly interesting because Tibet does not merely express personal thoughts.
He mentions concrete people, projects, and planned concert and travel activities for 1990/1991.
Among others, Amiens and Sol Invictus as well as other activities of the time are mentioned.
Thus the letter, in addition to its autograph value, also has an independent documentary value for the European Industrial, Experimental, and Apocalyptic Folk scene around 1990.
Current 93 was at that time closely connected with other important artists of the scene. The milieu of Current 93, Sol Invictus, Death in June, and Nurse With Wound belonged to the central networks of the European underground music of the era.
Complete original handwriting
The entire letter was personally handwritten by David Tibet in ink.
The individual handwriting makes this piece considerably more personal than a ordinary signed album or autograph card.
Handwritten works by Tibet in his artistic circle hold their own collector value. Specialized dealers offer original handwritten and artistic works by Tibet as standalone collectibles.
Rare letterhead
The letter was written on the rare, single-side illustrated letterhead
“The Final Church of the Noddy Apocalypse.”
The letterhead itself represents an interesting piece of original Current-93/David Tibet ephemera.
Original red Tibet stamp
In addition, the letter bears the characteristic red original stamp of David Tibet.
The combination of personal handwriting, special letterhead, and original stamp makes the document an exceptional piece from Tibet’s early milieu.
Original envelope with extraordinary postal history
The offer naturally includes the original envelope.
The envelope bears a London postmark from July 1990 and the German postmark:
“IRRLÄUFER.”
The existing postmarks document an unusual shipping history: the package reached its recipient only in December 1990, several months after it was sent.
Thus not only the letter itself has survived, but also its original postal history.
Letter and envelope form a cohesive historical ensemble.
Provenance – Archive Rainer Zücker
The document comes from the private archive of Rainer Zücker, a German mail-art artist and fanzine maker of the 1980s and 1990s.
Zücker was in personal contact at the time with various artists and figures in the European Industrial, Experimental, Mail-Art, and Underground scene.
The provenance gives the document an additional historical context.
Why this piece is special
The exceptional combination of:
- complete original handwriting by David Tibet
- year of origin 1990
- historically interesting passage about Aleister Crowley
- concrete information about current 93 activities at the time
- mention of Amiens and Sol Invictus
- rare illustrated original letterhead
- red original stamp of David Tibet
- original envelope
- London postmark from July 1990
- German postmark “IRRLÄUFER"
- unusual, multi-month shipping history
- provenance from the Rainer Zücker archive
makes this object an extraordinary historical collectible.
It is especially interesting for collectors of:
Current 93 · David Tibet · Apocalyptic Folk · Industrial · Experimental Music · Neofolk · Dark Ambient · Mail Art · British Underground · Sol Invictus · Death in June
Comparable collectibles
Autographed original documents and manuscripts by David Tibet are collected internationally. A current offer with two original signed documents is for example listed at US$360.
More importantly, however, original handwritten works by Tibet are offered by specialized dealers as standalone art and collectible objects.
The present letter goes beyond a typical autograph, as it represents a complete personal correspondence with original envelope and contemporary postal documentation.
An extraordinary time capsule from the milieu of David Tibet and Current 93.
David Tibet / Current 93 – Original handwritten letter from 1990 with original envelope
For sale is an extraordinary original historical document by David Tibet, founder and central figure of Current 93: a fully handwritten personal letter from 1990, together with the original envelope.
This is not merely a autograph or a signed slip, but a complete personal correspondence from a pivotal phase in the development of Current 93.
Historically especially interesting content
The letter contains personal statements by Tibet about Aleister Crowley and the Thelema/occult scene.
Particularly noteworthy is the explicitly critical statement:
“Please don’t waste your time with Aleister Crowley: he has nothing to offer except confusion.”
This statement is especially interesting in the historical context of Current 93. The early works of David Tibet and Current 93 were heavily shaped by occult, mystical, and Crowley-related themes. At the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, Tibet’s artistic and spiritual orientation increasingly progressed toward Gnosticism, Christian mysticism, and apocalyptic themes. The present letter comes precisely from this important transitional phase.
Insights into the underground scene at the time
The letter is also particularly interesting because Tibet does not merely express personal thoughts.
He mentions concrete people, projects, and planned concert and travel activities for 1990/1991.
Among others, Amiens and Sol Invictus as well as other activities of the time are mentioned.
Thus the letter, in addition to its autograph value, also has an independent documentary value for the European Industrial, Experimental, and Apocalyptic Folk scene around 1990.
Current 93 was at that time closely connected with other important artists of the scene. The milieu of Current 93, Sol Invictus, Death in June, and Nurse With Wound belonged to the central networks of the European underground music of the era.
Complete original handwriting
The entire letter was personally handwritten by David Tibet in ink.
The individual handwriting makes this piece considerably more personal than a ordinary signed album or autograph card.
Handwritten works by Tibet in his artistic circle hold their own collector value. Specialized dealers offer original handwritten and artistic works by Tibet as standalone collectibles.
Rare letterhead
The letter was written on the rare, single-side illustrated letterhead
“The Final Church of the Noddy Apocalypse.”
The letterhead itself represents an interesting piece of original Current-93/David Tibet ephemera.
Original red Tibet stamp
In addition, the letter bears the characteristic red original stamp of David Tibet.
The combination of personal handwriting, special letterhead, and original stamp makes the document an exceptional piece from Tibet’s early milieu.
Original envelope with extraordinary postal history
The offer naturally includes the original envelope.
The envelope bears a London postmark from July 1990 and the German postmark:
“IRRLÄUFER.”
The existing postmarks document an unusual shipping history: the package reached its recipient only in December 1990, several months after it was sent.
Thus not only the letter itself has survived, but also its original postal history.
Letter and envelope form a cohesive historical ensemble.
Provenance – Archive Rainer Zücker
The document comes from the private archive of Rainer Zücker, a German mail-art artist and fanzine maker of the 1980s and 1990s.
Zücker was in personal contact at the time with various artists and figures in the European Industrial, Experimental, Mail-Art, and Underground scene.
The provenance gives the document an additional historical context.
Why this piece is special
The exceptional combination of:
- complete original handwriting by David Tibet
- year of origin 1990
- historically interesting passage about Aleister Crowley
- concrete information about current 93 activities at the time
- mention of Amiens and Sol Invictus
- rare illustrated original letterhead
- red original stamp of David Tibet
- original envelope
- London postmark from July 1990
- German postmark “IRRLÄUFER"
- unusual, multi-month shipping history
- provenance from the Rainer Zücker archive
makes this object an extraordinary historical collectible.
It is especially interesting for collectors of:
Current 93 · David Tibet · Apocalyptic Folk · Industrial · Experimental Music · Neofolk · Dark Ambient · Mail Art · British Underground · Sol Invictus · Death in June
Comparable collectibles
Autographed original documents and manuscripts by David Tibet are collected internationally. A current offer with two original signed documents is for example listed at US$360.
More importantly, however, original handwritten works by Tibet are offered by specialized dealers as standalone art and collectible objects.
The present letter goes beyond a typical autograph, as it represents a complete personal correspondence with original envelope and contemporary postal documentation.
An extraordinary time capsule from the milieu of David Tibet and Current 93.
Details
Artist/band
Current 93 - David Tibet
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Number of objects
1
Material
Paper
Type
Handwritten letter with original envelope
Condition
Near mint
Extras
Hand signed
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